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Bulletin of the |
MARCH -APRIL2006 ISSUE
FROM THE FIELD
Opening Doors:BCALA New Jersey Chapter Forms
Nicole A. Cooke
The Black Caucus of the American Library Associations New Jersey Chapter (BCALA-NJ) held its inaugural reception at the Walsh Library Rotunda at Seton Hall University on Friday, 06 January 2006. Over 40 librarians, library staff members and supporters attended the event.
The event began with brief welcome and introductory remarks by Dr. Howard McGinn, Dean of Libraries at Seton Hall University and Trevor A. Dawes, Circulation Services Director at Princeton University and President of the BCALA-NJ. The evenings keynote speaker, Andrew Jackson, President of the national BCALA, delivered an impassioned speech on the importance of organizations like the BCALA and local chapters. Jackson emphasized the role that all library workers can play in advancing the mission of libraries and that activism, through organizations such as the BCALA-NJ, can continue to open doors and educational opportunities for our community members.
The BCALA-NJ serves as an advocate for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources to the state's African American communities, and provides leadership for the recruitment, networking, professional development, and mentoring of librarians and library staff. The Association also promotes the advancement, mentoring, and resource-sharing goals of both its members and those interested in the profession at any level. The BCALA-NJ also strives to provide and promote access to African-American resources within the realm of our role in the profession, both collectively and in our respective member organizations.
For more information about this new organization, please see http://www.bcala-nj.org/
BCALA-NJ Inaugural Event -- Seton Hall University Library Rotunda, 1/6/06
Executive Board Members (l to r): Zarita Mattox, Christopher Lee, Trevor Dawes, Nicole Cooke, Kathy Bradshaw, Andrew Jackson (Guest Speaker and President of BCALA).
Nicole A. Cooke is Evening Librarian / Assistant Professor at Montclair State University's Sprague Library.
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